What are ethics precisely (and I don't mean just the dictionary meaning, how do they work connotatively too)?

How do they differ from morals or moral codes?

I thought I understood this but then I started thinking about it too closely and now I'm not sure anymore. I know we have people here who study ethics and such so I was hoping they could enlighten me a bit._________________"Her kisses left something to be desired -- the rest of her. "

Well I was mostly thinking how you would go about setting up or establishing a set of ethics or codes on a national level that had nothing to do with religion. It struck me that our judicial system could be considered such... but as you say, in some ways it leaves a lot to be desired. Obviously, you couldn't instyill such a thing on a political level. I just don't see how else you could though, or how they could be decided and enforced or whatever._________________"Her kisses left something to be desired -- the rest of her. "

The major difference is one of usage. They're almost always synonymous. "Ethics," though, is also used as the term for the formal Philosophical study of right and wrong and good and bad and all that. Morality in that usage would refer specifically to the concept of things being good and evil.

I tend to use "morals" and "ethics" interchangeably. Some people differentiate the two, but none of my professors and few of the philosophers I've read have. --edit: Wheels beat me to it.--

I'd agree with Major Tom. For example, the Constitution guards basic rights. It doesn't have much to do with how ordinary people should interact with one another on a day to day level, but that doesn't mean that there's no ethical way to do it.

Why does religion have to have anything to do with an ethical code? We all have personal beliefs regarding the "right" way to act regardless of our religions.

i like wheels' definition - right and wrong vs. good and evil. they aren't orthogonal, though.

i think morals tend to be promoted via religion because for most of history, over most of the world, religion had (and still often has) a major role in setting standards of behavior. people who can't read or write, and who certainly never studied philosophy, still went to church or temple or whatever, heard the religious law laid down, and were expected to act in accordance with same. but laws or just a published code of ethics (which some businesses have) will do the same. you just need to make it clear to everyone what you expect.

....well, theoretically that's all you have to do._________________aka: neverscared!
a flux of vibrant matter

Joined: 09 Jul 2006Posts: 9718Location: I have to be somewhere? ::runs around frantically::

Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:15 pm Post subject:

It seems ya'll are defining morals as a personal thing when stating it differently is more correct: Ethics are a society's system of accepted thoughts and behaviors or those that are accepted. Truely there isn't much of a difference between "morals" and "ethics" in usage outside the classroom but ethics is considered to be the broader term. In other words, "ethics" usually includes "morals" though it isn't the other way around (again, usage varies). Both have to do with "right and wrong" actions/thoughts/etc and they are defined by the society/culture and do not have to be written down. When a system meant to guide is put down or formalized into "law," it becomes a code which is included in "ethics."_________________Before God created Las he pondered on all the aspects a woman might have, he considered which ones would look good super-inflated and which ones to leave alone.
After much deliberation he gave her a giant comfort zone. - Michael

morals and ethics are pretty much the same things. and if you want to know if an action is moral, you have to tell me which moral theory you want me to apply (there are many, which is probably why people can't agree on what is right and wrong).

I don't want to get into a history lesson here, but some people have been trying to set a moral guideline since aristotle's time (maybe even before, but its had to find evidence dating that far back). To my knowledge, people are still trying to find one that everyone will accept. My advice is to figure out what you think is morally good and bad.

pre-socratic philosophy... ask a sophist_________________bi-chromaticism is the extraordinary belief that there exists only two options
each polar opposite to each other
where one is completely superior to the other.

It seems ya'll are defining morals as a personal thing when stating it differently is more correct: Ethics are a society's system of accepted thoughts and behaviors or those that are accepted. Truely there isn't much of a difference between "morals" and "ethics" in usage outside the classroom but ethics is considered to be the broader term. In other words, "ethics" usually includes "morals" though it isn't the other way around (again, usage varies). Both have to do with "right and wrong" actions/thoughts/etc and they are defined by the society/culture and do not have to be written down. When a system meant to guide is put down or formalized into "law," it becomes a code which is included in "ethics."